Balsamo Voted to USILA Team of the Week

DURHAM – Duke men's lacrosse freshman midfielder Charles Balsamo has been named to the USILA Team of the Week following his stellar performance in the Blue Devils 14-13 overtime win at No. 20 Syracuse Sunday.

Balsamo netted the overtime winner with 54 seconds remaining in the extra session to give the Blue Devils their first road victory at Syracuse in program history. The Manhasset, N.Y., native finished the day with two goals and an assist to match his career-high three points. He also had two goals and an assist in the overtime victory against Denver.

With Duke trailing 8-4 midway through the second quarter, Balsamo pulled the Blue Devils within three on an unassisted tally with 3:33 left until halftime. The speedy midfielder helped cap Duke's 6-0 third-quarter run with a dish to Aidan Danenza on the crease to give the Blue Devils the 12-10 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

In overtime, Balsamo got the ball in his stick and raced down the right-side alley past Syracuse's shortstick midfielder and put it over the shoulder of Orange goaltender Will Mark for the winner.

0?? came in CLUTCH today ??#GoDuke pic.twitter.com/vy8z0SrkYT
— Duke Men's Lacrosse (@DukeMLAX) March 6, 2023

Balsamo has seven goals and two assists as a member of the first midfield this season. He also leads all Duke offensive middies with eight ground balls.

Duke (5-1, 1-0) moved up one spot to fourth in the USILA Coaches poll following the win at Syracuse. The Blue Devils return to Koskinen for a three-game homestand, welcoming No. 7 Loyola March 10 at 7 p.m., and 18th-ranked North Carolina March 17 at 6 p.m. Air Force wraps up the March home slate, March 20 at 7 p.m.

To stay up to date with Blue Devils men's lacrosse, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeMLAX".

#GoDuke